1 Kings 18:1

Elijah Gives Obadiah a Message for Ahab

1 It was now three years since it had rained. A message came to Elijah from the Lord. He said, "Go. Speak to Ahab. Then I will send rain on the land."

1 Kings 18:1 Meaning and Commentary

1 Kings 18:1

And it came to pass after many days
When two years and more were gone from the time the drought and famine began; or rather from the time of the prophets departure to the brook Cherith, which might be six months after the famine began:

that the word of the Lord came to Elijah in the third year;
of his absence from Ahab:

saying, go show thyself unto Ahab;
whom he had not seen so long, and who had been seeking for him, but to no purpose:

and I will send rain upon the earth;
the term of three years and six months being almost expired, see ( James 5:17 ) .

1 Kings 18:1 In-Context

1 It was now three years since it had rained. A message came to Elijah from the Lord. He said, "Go. Speak to Ahab. Then I will send rain on the land."

2 So Elijah went to speak to Ahab. There wasn't enough food in Samaria. The people there were very hungry.

3 Ahab had sent for Obadiah. He was in charge of Ahab's palace. Obadiah had great respect for the Lord.

4 Ahab's wife Jezebel had been killing off the LORD's prophets. So Obadiah had hidden 100 prophets in two caves. He had put 50 in each cave. He had supplied them with food and water.

5 Ahab had said to Obadiah, "Go through the land. Go to all of the springs of water and to the valleys. Maybe we can find some grass there. It will keep the horses and mules alive. Then we won't have to kill any of our animals."